An investigation of violence in Philadelphia schools by the Inquirer newspaper uncovered dozens of cases of students accused of assaulting each other, punching teachers, kicking school police officers, and threatening to harm staff that were never reported.
The incidents—183 during the 2009-10 school year—only came to light when city police issued arrest reports on each, said Michael Lodise, the president of the school police union. He said the district has increasingly left it to assault victims to press charges.
Deputy Mayor Everett Gillison said principals have broad latitude in running their schools. So, depending on the principal, schools vary widely on how they report and handle violence and whether they call city police.
